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Finding the first African American Fire Chief
I know this may be kind of off topic. But I'm looking to see who was the first black fire chief in America. My company started in 1949 and my Uncle became the first Black fire chief in Delaware. I know there were other black fire companies around but I would like to find out the first.
Even if you don't know but know of a black fire company in your area. I'm aware of Roosevelt, Chapel Oaks and Darby #4 and a few others.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mick Mayers on
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I would suggest that anyone who is on here who knows of a black fire chief in their district (or anywhere else for that matter) from way back, get that name and dates of service. It could be an interesting thread here if you knew of someone from say, 1920, and someone else was able to say, "Well, Chief so-and-so got his bugles in 1919". See what I mean? It's not scientific, but with all of the nation on here, maybe we could get fairly close. Unfortunately, of all the black fire chiefs I know, the earliest got their bump in the seventies, so I'm not even going to try.
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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Not sure of the accuracy, but a quick search led me to this:
From www.iabpff.org and then links to
http://www.cambridgema.gov/Historic/aahmonth.html#PATRICK H. RAYMOND
Patrick H. Raymond
1831 – 1892
Civil War Veteran, Newspaper Editor, and Fire Chief
Marker location: 10 Pleasant Street
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Patrick H. Raymond, the first African American fire chief, was born in Philadelphia, the son of the Reverend John and Susan Raymond. His father, a runaway slave from Virginia who became a well-known abolitionist in New York City, was one of the early pastors of the African Meeting House in Boston. About 1847, the Raymond family moved to Cambridge, where they lived on Washington Street near Kendall Square in the "lower Port," Cambridge’s first African American neighborhood. Raymond worked as a shoemaker before becoming a journalist at the Boston Herald and the Boston Advertiser. Able to pass as white, he and his brother joined the navy in 1862.
In 1864, Raymond returned to Cambridge, and in 1869 became the editor of the weekly Cambridge Press. In 1871, Mayor Hamlin Harding, a former editor of the paper, appointed him chief engineer of the Cambridge Fire Department. In 1870, the department had four assistant engineers, fifteen foremen, nine drivers, fifty-two part-time firemen, and a telegraph operator. The horse-drawn apparatus consisted of four steam fire engines and a hook and ladder truck. Over the next seven years, Raymond was able to triple the annual budget of the department, creating two new fire companies and building new firehouses on Portland Street and Western Avenue and in Brattle and Inman squares. Raymond suffered intense criticism from his rivals at the Cambridge Chronicle, but he survived eight years in office and served at the pleasure of four mayors. During his tenure he lived at 10 Pleasant Street, which was across Green Street from the City Hall of that time.
After Raymond was replaced as chief in 1878, he continued as editor and business agent of the Cambridge Press until 1890. He was elected corresponding secretary of the National Association of Fire Engineers in 1873 and was a charter member of the John A. Logan Post, Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Civil War veterans. His nephew, Theodore Raymond, was a real estate developer and longtime civic leader. Patrick Raymond died on July 28, 1892, and was buried in Cambridge Cemetery.
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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If only there were a means to use the internet to facilitate such searches, it would eliminate a ride to the local library for research.
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Permalink Reply by Just Plain Craig Moyer on
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I guess that answers my question but for some reason I'm alittle disappointed. I think its that fact that he could pass for white and the fire company was a white company.
I was looking more of the struggle. I grew up listening to my aunts stories of what we had to go through to become recognized as a fire company. And the funny thing is that Chapel Oaks in Md was going through the almost exact same thing. I actually thought they had stolen our history. I used to tell the young guys that we haven't a thing but need to work hard to validate the struggle those men and women went through.
My aunt is the last orginal member and at 96 has the memory of a 18yo. I'm getting all the information I can so I can put up a WIKI page of the true history of the company.
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Permalink Reply by WestPhilly on
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I guess he was Just Plain not black enough for Craig.
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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Craig,
Here's some additional information that might be helpful. It confirms Kali's report regarding Chief Raymond and has lots of other information including the existance of black firefighters in New Orleans in 1817 and in Savannah, GA in 1824. Indianapolis hired its first black firefighters in 1876.
Good luck with the information hunt.
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Permalink Reply by Padre Pete on
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Craig, 1958 Great question. Here in Lakewood, New York, we only have to look at the plaque in the station hallway that has the names of all our chiefs and the dates they served. Obviously our candidate was not the first, but we hold to the idea that ours may have been the first in this state. If this discussion generates any proof to the contrary, we may have to take a back seat. Richard Lattimore (may his soul rest in peace) was a school custodian and bus driver. We kids thought he was terific. Always fun to be around and one of only a very few African American most of us knew or even saw. He went through the ranks of Lts. and Capts. to be elected 2nd. Asst. Chief in 1956, 1st. Asst. Chief in 1957 and Chief of the village Fire Dept in 1958, 59 and 60. He stayed very active for sveral years after I joined in June of 61. Great Guy. We are all proud. Thanks for asking. Pete
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Permalink Reply by Eng Co 4 on
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Montel Williams' father was the first black fire chief of Baltimore MD. He worked
his way up throught all of the ranks to get there.
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JPCraig,
If it's any consolation to you, Chief Raymond would definitely pass for black in my little alabaster community. ;)
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Okay before WestPhilly and others brand me a racist, I'm not. I know the wide range of complexions we as African-Americans come in. I also understand what we as a people had to do to "get along" back in the day. While I'm only 46 my grandfather was a slave. I remember seeing my father and uncle denied entrance to an open restaurant in 1975. I'm a person that has never used race as an excuse.
Maybe I was looking for something like the stories I was raised on with my department. Of course evenpassing for white in the 1800's was fraut with peril. I can't imagine the fear he must have endured of being found out. Maybe they knew maybe they didn't. But I know his story is interesting. Now I'm looking for the first black volunteer chief.
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I thought that was a very informative no holds bared history.
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Said Craig: "Okay before WestPhilly and others brand me a racist, I'm not."
Oh, I guess it's settled then. But if only you had added that some of your best friends are white, I'd be thoroughly convinced.
Look, when you replied to the information provided to you compliments of Kali by saying you were a little disappointed Chief Raymond could pass for white and that the fire company was a white company, you either chose your words very poorly (which you didn't bother to say) or you said exactly what you wanted to say. In either case, you're apparently aware that some might construe those comments - or even you - as being racist. I would need a little more to go on than one post on FFN before labeling someone a racist, but I do wonder whether you might have phrased things a little differently or you said what you meant. Know what I mean?
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